Monday Always Comes Around!

Hi All,
Yes, Monday always comes around but if you have a great weekend, you can handle it! : )

Here's a picture of our weekly flowers at "The Firm." This arrangement is very pretty and I think you'll all agree. This vase of flowers is very different from what we've seen in the past. Such a pleasant sight when you walk in on Monday morning! I just love the cup-like flowers. Are those Calla Lilies? I know nothing about flowers - just a black thumb for me! When we lived in California they grew in our back yard like weeds. It was so nice to look out the windows and see them.

Living in California was an experience but that's another story for another time!








If you remember my last post, I was reading Danielle Steel's latest book, First Sight. The beginning was a bit boring but as it went on I enjoyed it more and more. I think the last few chapters made the book worthwhile. This week I'm reading The English Girl by Daniel Silva. This book was a bit slow in the beginning but after 2 or 3 chapters it really picked up. I am thoroughly enjoying it and recommended this one to my reading friend at "The Firm," Karen. I can't put it down because each chapter gets better and better! My next book will be The Innocent by David Baldacci. Karen recommended this one to me. Can't wait to get started on this one.

Now for the latest update on Debbie's spa cloths and Bears items. I won't bore you with pictures but I now have 7 spa cloths - just finished one this afternoon at work! I think I'll share them with Debbie's sisters, Heather and Cindy. I'll be making more so they'll have lots to choose from. They just love my spa cloths! Ha-ha!!

Debbie will be very happy with this next item. I'm almost done with her surprise; Chicago Bears pillow cases. It's so hard for me to hold back when I'm making something for someone that I know they'll love - so here they are. I especially love the football fabric! Hope she does too!

I've also finished the black merino cowl I made. It's very difficult to capture the beauty of this color and the pattern but here it is. Maybe someday I'll model my items so you can really see what they look like! Unfortunately my people have no patience to take a few pictures until we get the right one so I'm stuck unless Joanne is here!

Of course, I have yarn to make 3 more of these; cream, rust colored and another color that I can't remember! I just can't make one of anything. It is an illness... : )

I'm currently working on several projects including another pair of socks, my Just Enough Ruffles scarf, baby booties, hats, etc., etc. Sometimes I get star-I-tis BAD!!! I'm always thinking of new things to CO!




Of course, I made another project bag but this one is different. I'm going to give it to one of my knitting friends who is having a baby due on September 11. I predict a girl so we'll see how I do!  Since she's having her first baby, I thought I would use a baby theme fabric and try something different. I wanted to line the bag so I tried something that I thought would work. It sort of did but didn't. I do like the outcome anyway so it's different. Here is a progression of the bag.



Completed bag - front

Completed bag - back

Inside of bag
 

See what I mean. It's different! Still works! I hope she likes it! Not sure what she'll put in it but maybe she can use it for something for the baby (GIRL!) I also cut out fabric to make 3 or 4 more so I'm hoping to get those done as soon as I perfect the process of lining these bags. So much to do and so little time!

Well, that's it for now. I think I'll go sit down now and cast on something new to knit! Start-I-tis!

 

Hello!

Hi to all my friends out there!

Floral arrangement August 12, 2013

I want to take this opportunity to wish my two dear friends a happy birthday! Mandy celebrated her birthday on Sunday, August 11 and Sonia celebrates hers today! Happy birthday ladies!

Today is Monday and that means; the floral arrangement of the week from the "Firm." This one is very pretty and I think you'll enjoy it. The theme of these summer arrangements seems to be the orange/red flower with the yellow thing inside. It's fun (well, that may be an exaggeration) to come into the office each Monday and see what the week brings. Oh well, simple pleasures for simple people.

Now for the good news and the even "gooder" news. The good news is that I lost two pounds last week!! Only 10.8 pounds left til my goal! The even "gooder" news is that I got NINE ACTIVITY POINTS  on Sunday! That long brisk walk after breakfast at Lucky Grill was really worth it. As was the up and down the stairs cleaning, sorting, washing, drying, ironing and organizing the contents of Gregory's closet!

Liz, Sonia, Sue, Jane, Ro, Gladys


 

Me - I take the pics!

I was also busy earlier this weekend doing lots of fun things. I took the day off on Friday and a bunch of us knitting ladies went to Schaumburg for Stitches - a show for knitters! We walked around all day, had a coffee break and then ended up eating a great dinner. It's always fun getting together with the ladies!



Dinner with the group

 





Yarn/sheep fabric
 

Of course, I didn't buy any yarn at the yarn show! I bought fabric! They had a vendor selling knitting/sheep pattern fabric. It's very difficult to find this design in regular fabric stores so I took the opportunity to buy 1/2 a yard of each so I can make some project bags! They're cheaper than the ones for sale at the show and I made them myself! Here is the one I made on Sunday.

My first project bag





I also finished the Chicago Bears curtains I'm making for my niece Debbie. Hard to tell from here but they're done! I still have a couple other things to finish but that's for this coming weekend!

 

I know you're already tired but I had a bit more excitement on Sunday. I went to Joanne Fabrics and they had a special sale; all McCall's patterns were .70 each! I couldn't believe how expensive some of these patterns are now - $18.95 for tissue paper! I bought all craft type patterns because I have so much time on my hands! : )  For $7.00, I bought 10 patterns! Such a deal! I also bought some end of season items that were 90% off! Yes, I said 90% off! Hard to believe but I got some great deals! The picture of the patterns isn't that great but they are nice patterns. I also have two that I bought for someone else.

 

You may remember I was reading a book last week, Fin and Lady. I can't say I highly recommend this book. I basically read it just to get to the end. I have to say the last two or three chapters were worth the book. Now I'm reading a new Danielle Steel book, First Sight. I hope this one doesn't disappoint me. Some of her books have not been up to her usual standard. Review to follow!

 

Well, that's about it. I felt like a needed to take a day off to relax from my weekend today but I went in and kept myself busy all day!

 

Until the next time!

 

And The Floral Arrangement of the Week is.....

Happy Monday to all!

I was pleasantly surprised when I came into the office today and saw this beautiful arrangement. It's in one of my favorite colors and looks very summery. I wish I could have a new floral arrangement, roses, any flowers at my desk each Monday! Unfortunately it would probably get boring after a while.

Today was the start of my favorite time of the month at work; MONTHLY REPORT! I've become used it now and have totally made it my own but it is very daunting and I worry all the time that I've made a mistake. It's the OCD part of me. I even have nightmares about it before, during and after. Oh well, as I say, we all have our monthly reports.

Oh well, if nothing else, makes life exciting and challenging!



I finished my latest book today; Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky. I loved this book. The beginning was a bit difficult to get into but once I got through that, I loved the story. I highly recommend this one. Now I'm going to start Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine. I'm looking forward to this one.

Oh, just for the record, last week I lost 1.8 pounds! Just 12.6 pounds to my goal! It's getting harder and harder to lose the weight! I need to start exercising now to get rid of some of the flab! It's a process!

I was very excited last night after I realized I can buy some quilting dies to use with my Sizzix die cutting machine. I bought die one to see how, and if, it works. You can cut out fabric (I think) and templates for English Paper Piecing - my new venture. So glad I can use my scrapping tools for another hobby! I don't have ENOUGH to do so I'm looking for more! I was looking at some English Paper Piecing videos on YouTube and getting some ideas. It's a manual process and I'm not sure if I can take up another project but I'm going to try!

Enjoy the rest of your week. I'm looking forward to Friday this week because I'm off and will be going to Stitches with my knitting friends. We're going to try to resist the urge to buy yarn...we'll see how successful we are at that! I'll be sure to take some pictures and post them!

What? Back to Work Tomorrow?

Oh well, at least I'm making money to feed my habit(s)! : ) 

Hello all, I hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to enjoy the beautiful weather. I had my usual Sunday morning after breakfast walk today. It was so nice and peaceful! I just love walking through the neighborhoods, looking at each house and imaging what the inside looks like! I always imagine there is a large and perfectly appointed craft room! : ) Just like in my dreams!



 

Speaking of habits; I finally finished my socks! (Not the Cat Bordhi Sweet Tomato Heel Socks) This is a pair I started a while ago! They are a camouflage color; gray, brown and tan. I really forced myself to finish the last one and I'm glad I did! 

Now I have a beautiful new pair of socks. Let's see, who will be the lucky recipient of these socks?

 

 

 
I also finished another 10 minute table runner in - what else - candy corn and orange! I need to put some buttons on the ends but I'm just not sure what to do. I have a picture and would like some opinions. Do I keep them as they are, take away one, two, or use something totally different. Of course I was thinking of a candy corn button but that may be over kill!

 

Let me know what your thoughts are. I can't stop finding beautiful fabric to make these 10 minute (which actually take about 20 minutes) table runners!

 

Denim blue shades fat quarters

Speaking of fabric, I went to one of my favorite quilt shops; Quilter's Destination in Arlington Heights. (Always a bad idea but now I have my DH drive and he waits outside for me. This way I can't spend too much time and buy too much!) BUT, I did manage to buy a few things. I went there specifically to find some football fabric for - let's say something! : ) Of course, they didn't have any so I had to buy something else. I found a beautiful fat quarter bundle in soft denim blue shades. It was 40% off so I couldn't resist! I also found a cute pattern for Cupcake Pincushions. I just adore making pincushions.

 

I also bought this pattern for an adorable pincushion. I cut out fabric to make 5 of these but got sidetracked and didn't sew them yet. Eventually I will get to them but today I got involved in my candy corn table runner and another project involving one of Chicago's sports teams! Soon enough you'll see pictures of what I'm working on that's such a mystery. The problem is, working gets in the way of my creativity! DARN!!! I think I need to take a long weekend or a week off to catch up and get back on track!

 

As everyone knows, I love candy corn so when I was at the quilt shop, I found MORE candy corn fabric. The difference with this fabric is the candy corn has sparkles on them!

 

As far as the football fabric, I went on line and bought exactly what I needed! So glad it's 2013 and I can do that.

 

 

 

OK, I made another Maggie Linen Cowl. I can't stop making these. They're great projects to take and work on at work during lunch or whenever you have time. It's just knit, purl, knit purl etc.! I think I'll keep this one for myself (maybe!) I have my eyes on some oatmeal color linen that I have in my stash for the next one. There's also some green too.....

Maggie Linen Cowl

And last, but not least, I finally washed, dried, and ironed my two pillow cases. I made these about 6 months ago and they sat on my dryer waiting to be washed and used! Finally did it this morning and they are so pretty. I make these using one yard pieces of fabric. I mix and match the top and the borders so I can use just a yard. They turn out so nice and they are so easy! (Once you get the trick of the "sausage roll!")

Next weekend I hope to make one or two pincushions and finish my special projects! I also need to finish my Scrappy Bag and the others I've got cut out! Oh my, so much to make and not enough time to make it all! Someday.....

Until the next time....